Thursday, October 19, 2006

On (aging)(er...ah...) Maturing...






At what age does the mirror become our enemy? Reflected in the looking glass, what we see is often a harsh reminder of the reality that time, indeed - has passed - and that we have (been fortunate enough to have) moved on with it. Not often does the image we see in the mirror match up with the (more youthful) one we hold of ourselves in our mind's eye.

Photographs are even worse than mirrors. You can look away from reflections, but photos are a hard copy still-life of what it is what it is.

The refrain gets old as the image does:
Those bags under my eyes! I must have been extra tired that day...
My hair looks so thin! It must be time to change my conditioner to a 'more volumizing' one ...
Jowls? Who, me? Must be the camera angle...
Crow's feet and laugh lines? Need more moisturizer...
When did my lips change shape? Eyes lose their definition? Eyebrows thin so? OK, so a bit more lipstick, liner and pencil might help, but shan't let myself get too 'Baby Jane'.

All talk about 'counting one's blessings', 'inner beauty' and 'propensity for joy' aside, it's still a shocker growing older...

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

"You are so beautiful to me
You are so beautiful to me
Can't you see
Your everything I hoped for
Your everything I need
You are so beautiful to me

Such joy and happiness you bring
Such joy and happiness you bring
Like a dream
A guiding light that shines in the night
Heavens gift to me
You are so beautiful to me" - joe cocker

Paulie, Paulie, Paulie....bags, sags, wrinkles and crinkles....i still love ya!
********

When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a Valentine,birthday greetings, bottle of wine?
If I'd been out 'till quarter to three,would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?

Hmm------mmm---mmmh.
You'll be older, too.Aaah, and if you say the word, I could stay with you.


I could be handy, mending a fuse, when your lights have gone.
You can knit a sweater by the fireside, sunday mornings, go for a ride.
Doing the garden, digging the weeds, who could ask for more?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm sixty four?


Every summer we can rent a cottage in the Isle of Wightif it's not to dear. We shall scrimp and save.
Ah, grandchildren on your knee, Vera, Chuck, and Dave.


Send me a postcard, drop me a line stating point of view.
Indicate precisely what you mean to say, yours sincerely wasting away.
Give me your answer, fill in a form, mine forever more.
Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm sixty four?

by John Lennon/Paul McCartney

Hi B!
Yes, I know. My mirror has two faces. The one I see, and the one that's in my head!
I've noticed, overnight it seems, a little extra skin hanging under the hairs of my chinny chin chin...just when did this happen? I can deal with the wrinkles...even the set of luggage under my eyes...but please Dear Lord, not the gobbly wobbly turkey neck!!!
Still I will strive to age gracefully. I too will avoid the Baby Jane/Tammy Faye look.
So, everyday, i do some neck excercises (probably the only part of this aging body that does)drink plenty of water to stay hydrated...which makes for many trips to the loo...of course, during the night, robbing me of getting my 8 restful beauty hrs. of shut eye! hah! I can't even remember when I've had 5 hours of continuous sleep, let alone 8!
Aging, eh, I mean maturing, is better than not....verdad?

House Dreams said...

Oh, poor poor Paul, my dearest first love. Still looks good to meand he still makes my heart skip a beat. When I was fouteen and head over heels in love, I just knew that if he could just me, we'd fall in love!

And what's all this crazy gossip coming from his almost ex-wife? What's the deal their! Inquiring minds don't really want to know if it's going to dash my dreams!

House Dreams said...

oops, spelling error
"there", not "their"
and I'm a teacher's aide!

Anonymous said...

sorry ducky, but truth be told, if paul had the chance to meet me, it would have been me, me and only me!!!

my opinion...he married way to soon after linda's death. i think the girl he married did so for publicity for her own agendas, and for the money, of course....having his child sealed the deal.
and i don't in anyway believe that he did any of those things she's accused him of. the worst i can even imagine him doing is this....comparing her to the love of his life...Lovely Linda.

D

baffle said...

Perfect song(s) for a dedication!

House Dreams said...

Hey...he's almost single!
I'll be glad to personally find out if he's really as awful as the ex-to-be has been saying ...

DEAR PAUL,
I know you don't know me but if you'd meet me, I just know you'd discover...............................................
Oh, wait, I'M not single.
nevermind.